Fergufriday Fragments

It's allergy season, y'all. Boooooooooooooo!

I caught a glimpse of springtime this week. So. So. So. So. Ready.

I reached my pre-pregnancy weight last week and could wear my smallest pair of dress pants to work. WHAT.

My sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and two beautiful nephews, one of which I have never gotten to squeeze, will be in our apartment by the end the day. WOOT WOOT!! Looking forward to some quality family time and for Ellison to meet her Aunt Courtney, Uncle Jack, and cousins Samuel and Russell.

Ellison started coughing on Monday, and I am pretty sure hasn't stopped since. That pretty much sums up her week.

Chris is trying really hard to finish strong the race that he has been running for almost 4 years. Papers and exams. That pretty much sums up his week.

I continue to find myself worrying about things that are out of my control and that need not be worried about. That pretty much sums up my week.

Unlike most of my friends, no one ever really asked me when we were going to start having kids... but out of nowhere it seems like everyone has asked me, "When are you going to have another baby?" I don't mind it. I just think it's funny.

I hope you enjoyed my pointless and incredibly random post this fine Friday morning. Truth is, I just wanted to write and I wanted to give some attention to this blog since I haven't loved on it since February. Again, I remind you that I am transitioning blogs, and the future permanent blog is saltymess.blogspot.com. Be sure to start following us there if you like following us here!

Have a happy weekend!!

Liebster Award

So it's been a while now, but I was nominated for a Liebster Award by my friend, Elizabeth over at Living, Running, Cooking. 

What is a Liebster award? 

Well, it is an award that is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers. "Liebster" is apparently a German word meaning: sweetest, kindest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. ME?! Okay!

I am supposed to list eleven things about myself and answer Elizabeth's eleven questions. I am then supposed to nominate others and ask them questions. I had a lot of fun answering the questions, and I don't want to be a spoiled sport, so I have posted my answers. I also have a few people in mind that I would love to hear from as nominations, but I don't really know if they would want to participate, so I didn't tag anyone (LAME!). Thank you so much for the award, Elizabeth!

Here are the elevensies about me:

• I married my (Blue Mountain) college sweetheart and best friend in 2009. He is not a perfect man, but he is a godly man, and I am beyond blessed to be Chris’s wife. 
• We had the most beautiful baby girl we had ever laid eyes on in July of 2012. I am still amazed that God chose me to be Ellison’s Mommy. Blows. Me. Away. 
• We are a family in ministry. Both Chris and I feel called to full-time vocational ministry, and we followed that calling to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2009. Chris graduates with his Master of Divinity in May. 
• I was a seminary student, but I am not anymore. You can read about that here. 
• I work for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. I have the greatest and the best job, and I am extremely blessed to work where I work with the people I am privileged to work with. They are a family away from my own family. 
• We love North Carolina! As an Alabama girl married to a Mississippi boy, I was shocked to discover that North Carolina is my home. That may change as it has a couple of times in my life, but we have settled here and are in love with our city and state. 
• We love our church! We have been a part of a church plant in Cary, North Carolina since May 2010 and most recently a church merger in February 2013. The Creek Church has been the greatest place in ministry that we have ever been a part of. I have never experienced God’s love from his people in the way I have at The Creek. I have never learned so much in ministry from any institution as I have from The Creek, now Northwest Community Church. We know God has great things in store for this ministry. 

• We have two precious little puppies: an almost four year old yorkie named Phoebe and a three year old dachshund named Cornbread. They bring much joy into our home, even into the life of our seven-month-old. It’s ridiculously fun! 
• I love to blog even when I fail to do so. I am a communicator by nature, and I enjoy writing very much. In fact, I am currently transitioning blogs. If you are interested, check out Salty Mess here. More on that later! 
• We have a large and beautiful family. My family lives in Alabama. I have four parents, three sisters, a brother-in-law, seven living grandparents, and lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Chris has two parents, two siblings, a sister-in-law, brother-in-law, two precious nephews, a gorgeous niece, a nephew or niece on the way, two living grandparents, and lots and LOTS of aunts, uncles, and cousins. We adore our family and are blessed by their love, graciousness, and faithfulness to us. 
• We have an incredible network of friendships. I am overwhelmed by the number of close friendships God has entrusted to our care. We are truly blessed by deep, sincere friendships. 

And here are the answers to Elizabeth's questions:

1. Why did you start blogging? Honestly, I began blogging in a very confusing time of life. I was a first year seminary student that continued to bounce from major to major, degree program to degree program, struggling to interpret two callings in the same family as well as make ends meet. Pleasant Ways was therapeutic for me and has been ever since. It was and is a struggling seminary wife’s blog. 
2. Describe yourself in 5 words. Confident, Faithful, Passionate, Faithless, Insecure (Oximoronical, non?) 
3. What are your hobbies? Writing, Cooking, Crafting 
4. What is your life goal? “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'” –Erma Bombeck 
5. Dogs vs cats? Oh dogs…ALL. THE. WAY. 
6. If you could have one superhero power what would it be? The ability to travel back in time. Is that a superhero power? I think that would be super! 
7. What is your most embarrassing moment? Too many humiliating moments to count… Probably making a fool of myself during the toast at my best friend’s wedding. Bless. It.
8. If you had to go back and relive one year, what would it be and why? Again, too many I’d like to name. Probably my first year of marriage. It was one of struggle and great learnings, but I would love to go back and drown it in more wisdom and grace. Plus, we went to Disney World! Who wouldn't want to do that again?! 
9. If you could give up one bad habit, what would it be? Laziness. Is that a habit? Well, it’s bad. I would like to give that up. 
10. What is your dream vacation? Again, probably Disney World…in the future…with our kid(s). 
11. What is one of your guilty pleasures? Downton Abbey. I am addicted. Even though season 3 was a hot mess, it was like a train wreck; I just couldn't keep my eyes off of it!

Yay!! That was fun! Thanks again, Elizabeth! If anyone else wants in on the fun, just leave a comment and I will send you my questions and tag you in my post.

Salty Mess Blog

In the coming days, I will be transitioning blogs. I will offer more explanation of this later, but if you are interested in following the new, future-permanent blog, you can find it here: http://saltymess.blogspot.com/.

I will continue to write on Pleasant Ways, especially as Chris's seminary career winds down. Thank you to those that have followed us in this journey and have read about our struggles, victories, and everything in between. We are most grateful. I hope you will continue to follow us on the Salty Mess blog.

-Ashley